Description

Late Triassic

Bull Canyon Formation

Quay County, NM, USA

Very rare complete tooth with full root. 53mm.

Reptile, Archosaur.

Phytosaurs were crocodile-like archosaurs.  The fast way to tell their skulls apart is that crocodilians have their nasal opening at the end of their snouts while phytosaurs have theirs just in front of their eyes.  Some species  were larger than any crocodile living today, exceeding 25 feet in length.  The group disappeared during the end-Triassic mass extinction.

Phytosaurs had conical teeth at the front of the their jaws for grabbing and serrated, flatter teeth for cutting towards the back of their jaws.